Melissa Schlinger is a senior education and social-impact leader with three decades of experience spanning nonprofit, education, philanthropy, and mission-driven organizations. Her work sits at the intersection of strategy, systems change, and human-centered leadership, where she has led organizations through periods of growth, transformation, and increased impact. Melissa has been a trusted advisor to CEOs and boards, educators, funders, and youth serving organizations, known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to translate vision into execution. She is deeply committed to equity, youth development, and building organizations where people feel valued and empowered to do their best work.

Most recently, Melissa served as Chief Executive Officer of The Goldie Hawn Foundation and previously held senior leadership roles at CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), where she helped shape organizational strategy, expand partnerships, and advance the field of social and emotional learning through cross-sector collaboration. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles in education publishing and edtech, and she began her career she as a middle school teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Melissa lives in Frankfort, IL with her husband, Mark, and their 18-year-old twins who are headed to college this fall. She is involved in community organizing, volunteering, and has been a “Big Sister” to April for 23 years. She is an NPR and “The Daily” devotee, and enjoys reading, staying active, learning, and above all, spending time with friends and family and especially her beloved pup, Alice.